System of advertising

ABSTRACT

A system of advertising has a source of advertising information adapted to transmit advertising informations of different contents substantially corresponding to objects to be advertised situated in different advertising zones and formed as a server unit, a plurality of moving vehicles, each of the vehicles being provided with a receiver for receiving the advertising informations of different contents, each of the vehicles being provided with further unit for receiving a signal which does not contain advertising information, each of the vehicles being provided with vehicle location determination allowing unit adapted to allow determination of a location of a respective one of the vehicles, each of the vehicles being provided with a display for displaying advertising information, and the server unit determining a zone in which the vehicle is located and transmitting to the further receiving unit of the vehicle the signal which does not contain advertising information to select in a vehicle and display on the display a corresponding advertising information with a content which corresponds to the determined zone.

This application claims benefit of 60/192,678 filed Mar. 28, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for advertising, in particularwith the use of moving vehicles.

Advertising with view of the moving vehicles is known in the art, inparticular the moving vehicles have displays which display correspondingadvertising materials. However, these advertising materials are notspecific to a zone of the moving vehicle. However, it is very importantto display a corresponding advertising information at a zone when itwill be most efficient.

Some of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,717,374;5,914,654; 5,729,214; 5,627,549; 5,808,565; 5,214,793; 5,767,795;5,664,948; 5,218,629; 5,963,280; 5,878,369; 6,060,993; 6,122,850; aswell as European patent document EP 0349470. U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,993discloses a mobile display system in which a controller is associatedwith the vehicle and operatably connected to a display so as to drivethe display to generate a message, means operably connected to thecontroller generate signals indicative of the geographic location of thevehicle, and the controller receives the signals indicative of thegeographic location of the vehicle and determining when the vehicleenters a different zone to display a different message. In this systemthe controller associated with the vehicle generates signals indicativeof the geographic location of the vehicle and drive the display togenerate a message in correspondence with the geographic zone of thevehicle. The system can be further improved so that it is not necessaryfor a controller associated with a vehicle to specifically control thedisplay in the above mentioned manner. vehicle and displaying on thevehicle display an advertising information corresponding to a zone ofdetermined location, and the advertising is performed in a correspondingzone, in which the advertising is most meaningful and efficient.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for thepresent invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of present invention to provide a system ofadvertising, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparenthereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated,in a source of advertising information adapted to transmit advertisinginformations of different contents substantially corresponding toobjects to be advertised situated in different advertising zones andformed as a server means; a plurality of moving vehicles, each of saidvehicles being provided with a receiver for receiving the advertisinginformations of different contents, each of said vehicles being providedwith further means for receiving a signal which does not containadvertising information, each of said vehicles being provided withvehicle location determination allowing means adapted to allowdetermination of a location of a respective one of said vehicles, eachof said vehicles being provided with a display for displayingadvertising information, and said server means determining a zone inwhich the vehicle is located and transmitting to said further receivingmeans of the vehicle said signal which does not contain advertisinginformation to select in a vehicle and display on said display acorresponding advertising information with a content which correspondsto the determined zone.

When the system of advertising is designed in accordance with thepresent invention, then a signal is submitted to the vehicle from theserver in correspondence with the determined zone which signal does notcontain an advertising information, but only provides selection in the

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a system for advertising inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a vehicle of the inventive system withcorresponding means;

FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing a display which is used on thevehicle; and

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the inventive system.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A system of advertising in accordance with the present invention has asource of advertising information which is identified as a whole withreference numeral 1 and formed as server means. It stores advertisinginformations of different types. In particular, it can store advertisinginformations which are different in correspondence with a plurality ofzones, which vehicles will pass during driving. The informations ofdifferent types can be informations about businesses located atcorresponding different zones, for example different movie theaters,different restaurants, different museums, etc. On the other hand, theinformation can be based on an opposite principle: at a zone of onebusiness, an information about a competitor's business will bedisplayed. The different informations can be also informations ondifferent languages formed so that an advertising information in Spanishwill be advertised in a geographical zone with the Spanish population,an advertising information in French will be exhibited in France, etc.Also, other types of different informations are possible which aredesigned in correspondence with different zones. Generally the differenttypes of information differ from one another by their different content.The server means 1 transmit to the vehicle in advance a plurality ofdifferent advertising informations.

Each vehicle 2 is provided with various means for functioning within theinventive advertising system. Each vehicle is provided with a displayidentified with reference numeral 4. As shown in FIG. 3 the display canhave a substantially polygonal shape and can be provided with threescreens including side screens 5 and a rear screen 6, as will beexplained herein below. The displays can be arranged on top, sides,rear, front, etc. of the vehicle. Each vehicle 2 is provided with meansfor allowing determination of a location of the vehicle, identified withreference numeral 7. The location determination allowing means whichoperates automatically can operate in conjunction with a GlobalPositioning System or with any other system. The main function of thelocation determining means 7 is to allow determination of the locationof the vehicle in particular time moment.

Each vehicle 2 further has an advertising information receiving meansidentified with reference numeral 8. The advertising informationreceiving means can be formed as a wireless or a wire-based receiverwhich is adapted to receive the advertising information from the servermeans 1. Each vehicle is further provided with transmitting meansidentified with reference numeral 9 which transmit information from thelocation determination allowing means 7 to the server means 1 about thedetermined location of the vehicle with the use of a GPS system. Themeans 7 contain a GPS receiver or another element which determines thelocation, and the location information is transmitted by the locationdata transmitting means 9 to the server means 1.

It is also possible to use a different approach, in accordance withwhich an external network 9′ cooperates with the location determinationallowing means 7, determines the location of the vehicle, and transmitsthe location data to the server means 1. When the server means 1receives the information from the external network 9′ about the locationof the vehicle, the server means 1 determine a zone in which the vehicleis located and transmit to the advertising information receiving means8′ which is operably connected to the display 4 the correspondingcontrol information. For example, in the server and in the receivingmeans 8, the advertising informations can be classified in accordancewith codes, numbers, etc. Therefore, in response to the determination ofthe zone in which the vehicle is located by the server means 1, theserver means 1 send a signal which does not carry advertisinginformation but provides a selection of the corresponding advertisinginformation. Thereby, on the display 4 only the advertising informationwhich corresponds to the determined zone is displayed. For example whena vehicle passes a zone in which there is a Chinese restaurant, on thedisplay an advertising information about the Chinese restaurant will bedisplayed, also either in English or in Chinese.

Each vehicle further has a time determining means identified withreference numeral 10, which can be formed for example as a computerclock. A signal from the time determining means 10 is supplied to thedisplay, and on the display the advertising information incorrespondence with the specific time is displayed. For example, anadvertising information about a movie which is now played in aneighborhood movie theater will be displayed when the vehicle moves inthe neighborhood. Another type of information can be an informationabout a radio program which is now being broadcast in the correspondingzone.

In addition to a purely advertising information, the server means 1 canstore information about news and transmit it to the receiving means 8,so that the news are also displayed on the display 4. In addition thenews can be displayed selectively in correspondence with the locationdetermined by the location determining means or the external network 9′and the zone determined by the server means. For example, the news canbe displayed in Chinese when the vehicle passes a Chinese-speakingneighborhood.

As mentioned herein above, the location determination allowing means canbe formed so that they work in conjunction with a Global PositioningSystem. It is also possible that they work in conjunction with anothersystem. As for the global positioning system, it is well known that insome areas which are substantially enclosed a Global Positioning Systemor other systems do not operate sufficiently. In connection with this,the vehicle 2 can be provided with additional location determining means11. Such additional location determining means 11 are means which areexclusively vehicle-based and do not interact with external systems andcan include a speed or acceleration sensor 21 and a compass 22. When forexample one location of the vehicle is determined with the help of theGlobal Positioning System or another external system and then thevehicle moves to another, substantially enclosed location, the speed oracceleration sensor which senses the speed or acceleration and thecompass which senses the direction will produce corresponding signals,and a board computer receives the signal and determines a next locationwhich is reached by the vehicle and supplies a corresponding signal tothe server means 1 which determines a zone in which the vehicle islocated. means 8, so that the news are also displayed on the display 4.In addition the news can be displayed selectively in correspondence withthe location determined by the location determining means or theexternal network 9′ and the zone determined by the server means. Forexample, the news can be displayed in Chinese when the vehicle passes aChinese-speaking neighborhood.

As mentioned herein above, the location determination allowing means canbe formed so that they work in conjunction with a Global PositioningSystem. It is also possible that they work in conjunction with anothersystem. As for the global positioning system, it is well known that insome areas which are substantially enclosed a Global Positioning Systemor other systems do not operate sufficiently. In connection with this,the vehicle 2 can be provided with additional location determining means11. Such additional location determining means 11 are means which areexclusively vehicle-based and do not interact with external systems andcan include a speed or acceleration sensor 21 and a compass. 22. Whenfor example one location of the vehicle is determined with the help ofthe Global Positioning System or another external system and then thevehicle moves to another, substantially enclosed location, the speed oracceleration sensor which senses the speed or acceleration and thecompass which senses the direction will produce corresponding signals,and a board computer receives the signal and determines a next locationwhich is reached by the vehicle and supplies a corresponding signal tothe server means 1 which determines a zone in which the vehicle islocated. means 8, so that the news are also displayed on the display 4.In addition the news can be displayed selectively in correspondence withthe location determined by the location determining means or theexternal network 9′ and the zone determined by the server means. Forexample, the news can be displayed in Chinese when the vehicle passes aChinese-speaking neighborhood.

As mentioned herein above, the location determination allowing means canbe formed so that they work in conjunction with a Global PositioningSystem. It is also possible that they work in conjunction with anothersystem. As for the global positioning system, it is well known that insome areas which are substantially enclosed a Global Positioning Systemor other systems do not operate sufficiently. In connection with this,the vehicle 2 can be provided with additional location determining means11. Such additional location determining means 11 are means which areexclusively vehicle-based and do not interact with external systems andcan include a speed or acceleration sensor 21 and a compass 22. When forexample one location of the vehicle is determined with the help of theGlobal Positioning System or another external system and then thevehicle moves to another, substantially enclosed location, the speed oracceleration sensor which senses the speed or acceleration and thecompass which senses the direction will produce corresponding signals,and a board computer receives the signal and determines a next locationwhich is reached by the vehicle and supplies a corresponding signal tothe server means 1 which determines a zone in which the vehicle islocated.

The display can be formed as a liquid crystal display, or can be basedon light emitting diodes, plasma-type display, or can have anotherconstruction. In accordance with the invention, a display can haveadjustable brightness, in dependence on an ambient illumination. Forthis purpose, a display can have an illumination intensity sensor, andan executing mechanism connected with the illumination intensity sensorand automatically changing the brightness of the display, depending onthe changing ambient illumination intensity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display can have a plurality, for example threescreens including two side screens and one rear screen. Means can beprovided, as identified with reference numeral 12, which can provide adisplay of different types of information on different screens. Inparticular on the rear screen which is visible by a driver of a vehiclewhich moves rearwardly in traffic can be provided with information whichis non distracting, for example stationary information or informationabout traffic rules, etc., while the screens 5 and 6 can displayinformation containing moving images at high speed. In accordance withstill another feature of present invention, the display can be connectedwith a speedometer of the vehicle 2 and operate so that when the vehicleis immovable or moves with a slow speed the speed of the advertisinginformation is higher, while when the speed of the vehicle increases,the speed of displaying of advertising information is slower to reduceattraction of traffic participants to the displayed information and toprevent accidents. Also the information can change only when the vehiclestops or moves with a lower speed, while at the higher speed theadvertising information on the display can be immovable.

The display 4 can be formed so that it displays of the advertisinginformation within a predetermined time period in correspondence withthe time of the day and zone in which the vehicle is located, forexample.

In accordance with a further feature of present invention, each vehiclecan have additional transmitting means 14 operative for transmitting aninformation about the type of information displayed, the time ofdisplaying the information, back to the same or to an additional source1. As a result, the efficiency of the advertising information can bedetermined when the type and the display time of the correspondinginformation is known, and actual changes in consumer behavior withrespect to an object of the advertising information have been determinedas well. For example, it can be determined in this way how theadvertising information helps to increase sales of tickets for movies ina corresponding movie theater. This feedback can be based for example onthe use of a cellular telephones which receive the information from thesource 1 in the vehicle, and also transmit the information from thevehicle to the source.

FIG. 4 shows another modification of the inventive system. In the systemshown in FIG. 4, objects in corresponding zones are provided withlocation determination allowing means 23, and also the vehicles areprovided with location determination allowing means 24. The locationdetermination allowing means 23, 24 can be formed as a receiver and atransmitter correspondingly, or as a receiver/transmitter unit.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the server means 1 transmit inadvance to the vehicle a plurality of different informationscorresponding to the different zones. When the vehicle in acorresponding zone approaches an object or approaches an area in whichthe object transmits a signal, the interaction of the locationdetermination allowing means 23, 24 results in a location determininginformation which is submitted to the server means by transmitting meanslocated either on the vehicle or on the object. In response to thereceipt by the server means 1 of the data about the location of thevehicle 2, the server means determine the zone of the vehicle andtransmit a signal which does not contain any advertising information,but instead causes in the vehicle the selection and display of anadvertising information corresponding to the determined zone of thevehicle. This signal can be also, in another alternative, transmitted tothe object and then retransmitted to the vehicle. As in the firstembodiment, the signal does not carry any advertising information, butis a coded signal which causes the selection of a correspondingadvertising information and its display on the vehicle.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in asystem of advertising, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system of advertising, comprising a source ofadvertising information adapted to transmit advertising informations ofdifferent contents substantially corresponding to objects to beadvertised situated in different advertising zones and formed as aserver means; a plurality of moving vehicles, each of said vehiclesbeing provided with a receiver for receiving the advertisinginformations of different contents each of said vehicles being providedwith further means for receiving a signal which does not containadvertising information, each of said vehicles being provided withvehicle location determination allowing means adapted to allowdetermination of a location of a respective one of said vehicles, eachof said vehicles being provided with a display for displayingadvertising information, and said server means being formed so as todetermine a zone in which the vehicle is located and to transmit to saidfurther receiving means of the vehicle said signal which does notcontain advertising information without transmitting the advertisinginformation, while said receiver in each of said vehicles is formed soas to provide selection in a vehicle, based on said signal, and todisplay on said display an advertising information corresponding to saidsignal with a content which thereby corresponds to the determined zone.2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said location determinationallowing means is formed so as to cooperate with an external system; andfurther comprising additional location determining means operative fordetermining a distance at end directions covered by a respective one ofsaid vehicles from a location determined with the help of the externalsystem.
 3. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein said locationdetermination allowing means is means which operate exclusively in acorresponding vehicle and do not interact with an external system.
 4. Asystem as defined in claim 3, wherein said additional means include asensor selected from the group consisting of a speed sensor and anacceleration sensor and a compass provided in each of the vehicles andoperative for determination a covered distance and a direction of arespective one of said vehicles from the location determined with thehelp of the external system.
 5. A system as defined in claim 3, whereinsaid location determination allowing means includes first means providedon each of the vehicles and second means provided on an object locatedin an advertising zone, so that when a vehicle passes through saidadvertising zone and said first and second means interact with oneanother, said server means send said signal to select and display on thevehicle a corresponding advertising information.
 6. A system as definedin claim 1, wherein each of said vehicles is provided with means fordetermining time, and means for displaying an advertising informationwhich can not be displayed at the determined time.
 7. A system asdefined in claim 1, wherein said server means also supply information tosaid vehicles related to news, said selecting means selecting news witha content which corresponds to the determined zone.
 8. A system asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of said displays is provided with meansfor adjusting brightness intensity in dependence on an ambientillumination.
 9. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of saiddisplays have screens provided on several sides of said display.
 10. Asystem as defined in claim 9; and further comprising means on each ofsaid vehicles for displaying different advertising information ondifferent ones of said screens.
 11. A system as defined in claim 1; andfurther comprising means for displaying on said display of each of saidvehicles a changeable advertising information when a correspondingvehicle is movable or moves with a relatively low speed, while when thecorresponding one of the vehicles moves with a higher speed anon-changeable information is displayed on said display.
 12. A system asdefined in claim 1; and further comprising means for transmittinginformation as to what advertising information has been displayed by arespective one of said vehicles in a corresponding zone and acorresponding duration of time of displaying of said advertisinginformation, so that efficiency of advertising can be evaluated.
 13. Asystem as defined in claim 1; and further comprising Internet-basedmeans for transferring the advertising information from an advertiser tosaid source.
 14. A system as defined in claim 1; and further comprisingexternal network means cooperating with said location determinationallowing means so as to determine the location of the vehicle and totransmit data about the location of the vehicle to said server means.